Since 1977, Jon Michael Probstein has assisted people and businesses in all matters. In accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, this may be deemed "Attorney Advertising". Nothing contained herein should be construed as legal advice. Always consult a lawyer regarding any matter. Call 888 795-4555 or 212 972-3250 or 516 690-9780. Fax 212 202-6495. Email jmp@jmpattorney.com

Friday, April 21, 2017

JURISDICTION IN FAMILY COURT - WHEN CHILD NOT ALWAYS IN NY

"Petitioner (hereinafter the father) and respondent (hereinafter the mother) are the parents of a son (born in 2006), born in New York. In 2014, Family Court issued an order, on the parties' consent, granting the father's petition to modify a prior custody and visitation order, and awarded the parties joint custody of the child with placement with the mother effective June 25, 2014. The 2014 order granted the father visitation with the child during summer vacations and school breaks of three consecutive days or more and as the parties mutually agree. The father apparently remained in New York while the mother and child have lived in Illinois and then Wisconsin with various relatives[1]. In May 2016, the father commenced this modification proceeding seeking sole custody of the child, alleging that, among other things, the mother lacks stable housing and is a substance abuser, and that the child has been living with either his maternal grandmother or great-grandmother since March 2016. Prior to a response by the mother, Family Court sua sponte dismissed the petition, finding that New York does not have continuing exclusive jurisdiction over the child's custody pursuant to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (see Domestic Relations Law art 5-A). The father appeals.[2]
We reverse. A New York court that has previously made a child custody determination "has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the determination until . . . a court of this state determines that neither the child [nor] the child and one parent . . . have a significant connection with this state and that substantial evidence is no longer available in this state concerning the child's care, protection, training, and personal relationships" (Domestic Relations Law § 76 — a [1] [a]; see Matter of Wengenroth v McGuire, 127 AD3d 1278, 1280 [2015],lv denied25 NY3d 913 [2015]). In dismissing the petition, Family Court relied upon the fact that the child and the mother had not resided in New York for over two years and that the "events which [the father] asserts in support of his petition occurred in Wisconsin." However, the father, who shares joint custody of the child pursuant to the 2014 order and has apparently lived continuously in New York since before the 2014 custody order was issued, alleges in an affidavit in support of his petition that the child spent the prior summer — from June 22, 2015 to August 22, 2015 — with him in New York pursuant to the 2014 order[3] (see Matter of Belcher v Lawrence, 98 AD3d 197, 200-201 [2012]; compare Matter of Wengenroth, 127 AD3d at 1280; Matter of Zippo v Zippo, 41 AD3d 915, 916 [2007]). The allegations in the petition, while somewhat confusing, further suggest that the child lived in New York from his birth until June 2014 and for a period of several months in early 2016, and that the child has a half sibling living with the father with whom he is bonded. According to the father, the child has his own room, a bank account, a YMCA membership and many familial and social relationships in New York.

[1] The record does not reflect whether the mother obtained a court order authorizing her move out of state with the child.[2] The mother has not submitted a brief or letter on appeal although contacted and requested to do so.[3] The father's brief on appeal represents that the child also spent the summer of 2016 with him in New York.[4] On a motion to dismiss pursuant to CPLR 3211 (a), the facts as alleged in the petition are accepted as true (see Matter of Leon v Martinez, 84 NY2d 83, 87-88 [1994]). Likewise here, where the petition was dismissed without a motion, sua sponte, Family Court was bound to credit the father's allegations in his petition."

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Jon Michael Probstein, Esq.

About Me

Since 1977, my practice consisted of representing and assisting people and businesses in all matters, including public and private corporations, on both a civil and criminal level. My services have included public offerings, proxy fights, securities regulation, all phases of civil and criminal litigation, family law, estate law, guardianships, negotiation and drafting of a wide variety of agreements and transactions, in addition to general advice with regard to the customs and practices within various industries. I was also a Guest Commentator on COURT TV and an arbitrator. I am admitted to practice in New York and the federal courts, Southern and Eastern District, as well as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Currently, I am special counsel to law firms in Los Angeles and New York, as well as operating my own office in Nassau County. I regularly perform pro bono work for the Volunteer Lawyers Project, Nassau/Suffolk Law Services, Inc. and the NYS Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and I am a member of the LAP Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association. I also have a blog that discusses common legal problems which you can visit at http://jmpattorney.blogspot.com/